Closure for collapsible tubes



June 13, 1933. w. B. STEWART dLGU'RE Fon COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Original Filed 'Jul 27, 1951 Cit km mg lustrated, andin which:

Patented June 13, 1933 UNITED STATES WALTER B. STEWART, 01? DENVER, COLORADO CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Application filed July 27, 1931, Serial No. 553,353. Renewed December 1, 1932.

This invention relates to improvements in closures for collapsible tubes.

In the marketing of certain kinds of merchandise suchas pastes of different kinds, 5 Vaseline, and ointments, etc., it is customary to employ collapsible tubes provided at one end with a tubular neck to which a screw cap is removably attached. When any of the contents of the tube is to be used, the cap is removed and pressure is then applied to the tube whereby a quantity of the material is extruded.

The removable caps have been found to be objection able because they are easily dropped 1.5 and therefore are often lost, wherefore it has been suggested to attach the caps to the tubes or to anchor them so that they cannot be lost or misplaced.

It is the primary object of this invention to produce an improved closure for a' collapsible tube which shall be so constructed that it does not employ a removable cap but on the other hand a cap that is securely attached to the neck of the tube so that it can rotate through an angle of about 180 degrees and at the same time move slightly in the direction of the length of the tube.

Another object of this invention is to pro duce a closure that shall be so constructed that the parts can be readily cleaned and which will therefore remain sanitary,

A still further object of this invention is 'to produce a closure that will form a tight seal when it is in closed position and which will permit the material to be freely extruded when required.

The above and other objects of this invention, which will appear as the. description proceeds, are attained by means of a construction and an arrangement of parts that will now be described-in detail, and reference for thispurpose will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been il- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a co lapsible tube showing the same provided with my improved closure;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the closure showing it in closed position; N f

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the closure in open position;

*ig. 4is a section taken on line M, Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5, Fig. 3.

Numeral 1 represents a collapsible metal tube of the usual construction. After the I tube has been filled, the lower end is pressed together and secured by means of a metal strip 2. The upper end of the tube is formed with a dispensing neck 3, which is usually integral with the tube. The neck has an opening 4 that communicates with the interior of the tube and opens at the top to one side of a diameter. The opening is preferably inclined with respect. to the axis of the tube and neck somewhat, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 with the result that when the tube is squeezed the contents will be extruded in an outward ly inclined direction as indicated by dot and 7 dash lines in Fig. 5. The neck is provided with a short cylindrical zone 5 whose outer surface is threaded. That portion of the neck which lies between the lower end of the threaded zone and the top of the tube has 7 been designated by numeral 6 and the upper end of this surface forms a shoulder to Which reference willbe made later. The metal about the upper end of opening 4 is raised as indicated at 7.

Secured to the neck is a cap having a cylindrical portion 8 whose inner surface is threaded and adapted to engage with the threads on the outer surface of zone 5. A knurled flange 9 surrounds the cylindrical portion 8 for convenience in turning the cap, although this is unnecessary as far as this invention is concerned. The lower end 10 of wall 8 is smooth on the inside and is crumpled inwardly so as to project into the recess 6 and so that it will engage the shoulder at the lower. end. of the threaded zone for the purpose of preventing the cap from being removed. \Vhen the cap is in sealing position, it occupies the position shown in Fig. 4, from which it will be-seen that the inside of the cover is provided with a semicircular recess 11 in which is located the cork pad 12. Recess 11 is so located that it will be directly over the opening 4 when the cap is screwed down ti hi; and the projection 7 will therefore em ed itself in the "cork so as to form an efiective seal. Theend of the neck and the cap are formed with cut awa portions 13,a'nd 14 that register, with eac other when the cap is in closed position, as shown in Figs. 1,2 and 4. ihe end of the neck has a concave surface 13 that ma extend to a diameter but which is prefera 1y a segment that is less than a semicircle. When material is to be dispensed from the tube the cap is turned in a direction in which it is moved upwardly by the action of the threads until the flange engages the shoulder and prevents further rotation. By the simple expedient of putting the cap in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5 and then crlmping the lower end thereof the cap will come to a stop in the same position whenever it is opened. The parts are so proportioned that the cap requires to be turned through 180 degrees only from fully closed tofully open position, but the cap can be turned somewhat more or less without impairing the operation.

Let us assume that the collapsible tube 1 is provided with the closure describ d and that it is empty. To fill the tube he cap is rotated to open position, Fig. 5, and the inaterialis then introduced through the open bottom; when the material begins to discharge through opening 4 the tube is full and the lower end is then closed and sealed; the cap is then turned to the osition shown in Fi 4 and the cap wipe clean. After the tu e has been filled and it is desired to dispense some of its contents, the cap is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 5 and pressure applled to the tube, whereupon the material will be forced out. Owing to the inclined position of openin 4, the material will assume the position s own in Fig. 5. After the required amount of material has been extruded the cap is rotated "to closed position and the sharp edge 15 of the cap shears the paste and the latter can then be removed by moving the tooth brush 'over the surfaces 13 and 14. Owing to the fact that the surfaces 13 and 14 are so fully accessible, the arts can be kept clean and in sanitary con ition, as distinguished from similar devices where the end 'of the ca has a hole that registers'with an eccentrically positioned opening in the neck.

e 4 may be of any suitable cross sectional' shape and is preferablyinclined, as shown, at some angle between 5 and degrees. The threadsare preferably of steep pitch" so as to give considerable longitudinal I 0 movement for each rotation of the cap and the lower locking flan e 10 maybe formed from separate lugs if esired. From the above it 'will be apparent tha have produced a simple closure"for col- "lapsible tubes, which is so constructed that manner nod and closed by rotating the one half a turn and in which it can be ,1- cap throu a the parts re so shaped that the closure can a cylindrical zone of larger diameter than the parts directly above and below, the outer surface of the zone being threaded, the end surface of the neck being cut away on one side of a diameter so as to form an inclined surface, the passage extending through the neck on the side opposite from the cut away portion, and a cover secured to the neck, the cover having a cylindrical portion threaded on its inner surface, a portion of the top of the cover being cut away, so that the cut portions form a continuation of the inclined surface of the end, and means for limiting the rotating of the cover in both directions.

2. Aclosure for a collapsible tubecomprising, a neck portionhaving a cylindrical zone whose outer surface is threaded the portion directly below the threaded surface being of smaller diameter, the end of the neck ortion directly above the threaded -zone belng cut away on one side of a diameter so as to form an inclined surface, the neck having an opening that terminates in that portion of the'end opposite the inclined surface, and a cup sha- (1 cover enclosing the neck, the inner surihfce of the cover being threaded for engagement with the threaded surface of the zone, a portion of the top and side of the cover being cut away so that the cut edges in one position form extensions of the inclined surface on the end of the neck, the cover having portions of its lower edge bent inwardl so as to engage the reduced portion beneath the threaded zone and form a. stop that limits the outward movement of the cap.

3. A closure for a'collapsible tube comprising a neck portion having a cylindrical zone whose outer surface is threaded the portion directly below the threaded surface being of smaller diameter, the end of the neck portion directly above the threaded zone being, cut away on. one side of a diameter so as to form an inclined surface, the neck having an opening that terminates in that portion of the end opposite the inclined surface, a cup shaped cover enclosing the neck, the inner surface of the cover being t eaded for engagement with the threaded sui'face of the zone, the inner surface of the end of the cover having a depression, a portion of the top and side of the cover'being cut away so that in one position the cut edges form extensions ofthe inclined surface onthe end of the neck, the cover having portions of its lower edge bent inwardly so as to engage the reduced portion beneath the threaded zone and form a stop that limits the outward movement of the cap and a gasket located in the depression in the inner surface of the remaining portion of the end of the cover and adapted to be moved against the outer end of the neck to close the opening therein.

4. A closure for a collapsible tube comprising a neck portion having a cylindrical threaded zone, that (portion between the lower end of the threade zone and the top of the tube being of reduced outside diameter whereby a shoulder is formed below the threaded zone, the neck extending; above the threaded zone, the end of the neo being cut away-on one side of a diameter so as to form an inclined surface, the neck having an opening on the side 0 posite from the inclined surface, and a cu -li e cap having the inner surface of its 4 cy indrical portion threaded to engage the threads on the threaded zone, a portion of the top and the side of the cap being cut away, the cut-surfaces when the cap is in open position coinciding with the inclined end surface, the lower end of the wall of'the cap being bentinwardly so asto engage'the shoulder beneath the threaded zone when the cap is rotated in one direction. I

5. A closure for a collapsible tube comprising a neck portion having a cylindrical zone,

- that portion between the lower end of the cylindrical zone and the top of the tube being of reduced outside diameterwhereby 9. sho

, der is formed below the threaded zone, the

a5 neck extendiniabove' the cylindrical zone, the

end of the nec being cut away on one side of a diameter so as to orm an inclined surface, the neck having an openin on the side opposite from the inclined sur ace, a cup-like cap 40 having the inner surface of" its cylindrical portion in rotatable engagement with the cylindrical zone a portion of the top and the side of the cap in cut away,- the cut surfaces when the cap is in open position coin- 'ciding with the inclined end surface, the lower end of the wall ofthe cap being bentinwardly so as'to engage the shoulder beneath the zone when the ca is rotated in one direction, the u per end 0 the neck having a raised portion a acent the openin and the inner surface of the end of the cap aving a gasket Y adapted to be brought into contact with the raised portion to form a seal.

In testimony whereof I aflix m signature. 5 v WALTER B. ST WART. 

